Changeable rotary press



March 14, 1933. H. F. BECHMAN CHANGEABLE ROTARY PRESS Original Filed Sept. 13. 192 2 Sheets-Sheet l V awe/M 01 Henry Ffiechman (Decease C JIationaLBwdz & Trust Camila/1y gffiatte Creek Md/ruhstmfofi March 14, 1933. V H BECHMAN 1,901,076

CHANGEABLE ROTARY PRES S Original Filed Sept. 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awn too- Henvy FjBechnm (386661594) Cay WatcbnaZBank 8' ITZLJ'Z' c m 9 0 33mm Cwmmwmw wh w Patented Mar. 14, 19 33 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY F. BEOI-ILMAN; DECEASED, .LATE OF BATTLE CREEK, LEICHIGAN, BY CITY NATIONAL K & TRUST COMPANY OF BATTLE GREEK, OF BATTLE. GREEK, MICHI- GAN, ADMINISTRATOR, ASSIGNOR T DUPLEX PRINTING DRESS COMPANY, OF

BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN CHANGEABLE ROTARY rnnss Original application filed.

This application is a division of Henry F. Bechmans application for changeable rotary press, filed Sept. 13th, 1924:, SerialNo. 737,- 553, and is filed in compliance with ofiicial requirement for division.

This invention is an improvement in r0 tary web printing presses adapted for printing newspapers, and its object is to producea press which can be easilyand quickly altered to produce a newspaper of another desired length'of sheet, by substituting for the printing and impression cylinders thereinother like cylinders of the proper size; and which press can be readily changed so as'to allow the direction of run of the web to be reversed by reversing or changing the position of the ink distributing rollers. 7

To make more clear the object of the invention, it should be understood that large newspapers are customarily printed on ro tary web presses and these .papers are usually either approximately 21 22%" or 23- in length; and the plate and impression cy inders are usually made two sheets long. in circumference and therefore for the said lengths of sheets the cylinders, of the press would be 13%; 14%"; or 15 in diameter, respectively.

These large newspaper presses are practically only built to order, (unless the publisher can find a secondhand press which would suit him) and the plate and impression cylinders therein are made of the proper diameter to print the particular length of sheet desired by the publisher; and the press is constructed and adapted to economically and efficiently print pages of one particular length. Furthermore, cylinders, frames, gearing, etc., of the press are not usually manufactured until the order (determining the length of sheet) is given, as it'would throw an immense financial burden on manufacturers to carry large newspaper machines for different sizes of pages in stock. 1

It frequently happens that after a news- I paper publisher has purchased one or more presses adapted to print a given size of page,

conditions change, which make it desirablefor him to alter the length of pages in his papers; and heretofore in order to dov this September 13, 1924, Serial No. 737,553. Divided and this appl ication filed m 5, 1930, Seria1 No. 450,008. Renewed August 16, 1932.-

he has had to expend a large amount of ,must be fed from below.- fThe-direetion of revolution of the cylinders, ink drums and ink rolls of a printing press mustbe in har mony with the direction of the paper travel;

and the direction of the paper travel andthe direction of-rotat-ion of the ink drum and the position of the ink rollers which distribute the ink on the ink drums depends upon the direction of rotation of the plate cylinders; and if the direction of run of web is changed, the direction of rotation of the plate cylinders must be changed, andthe direction of rotation of the ink drum must be correspondingly changed; and therefore the position of the adjustable ink distributing rollers must be changed, because the ink must be distributed between the point of theink supply to the drum and the form rollers which. transfer ink from the drum to the printing surfaces on the plate cylinders. At times it is advantageous or necessary to make this change in direction of run of the web after the presses have been installed.

Newspaper presses constructed in accordance with the present invention will enable the newspaper owner to change the length,

of the page without havlng tobuy an entirely'new press, as the plate and impression cylinders therein can be removed and substituted by like cylinders of a size adapted to print the desired length of pagewithout necessitating any other material changes in the press; and also will enable the ink drum to 1 be rotated in either desired direction, according to the desired run of the web through the pressieither up or down, as the ink distributing rollers are made changeable from one side of the ink drum to the other, so

that they can be properly locatedbetween the point of ink supply to the drum and the form rollers. This invention also enables the manufacturer to practically stock machines for printing any desired-length of page at practically one third the cost heretofore involved in so doing; and allows alterations in size of presses to be made at a much smaller expenditure of time and money than heretofore; and also allows changesin position of thepaper supply and run of the inking mechanism with practically no change in the printing, section; and all the said changes can a be made very quickly and economically when desired. If "a newspaper. publisher 7 has presses made in accordance with the pres sary fordiffe'rent sized cylinders; and interchangeable filling pieces or blocks are provided to correctlyposition the boxes according to the sizes of the different cylinders.

g The framesof the press are also so built thatthe supportsfor the ink distributing cation.

rollers can be interchangeably positioned. at either side of the inking drum so as to come between the ink supply and form rollers; and with these few changes the press can be readily adapted to print papers of any one of the usual length of a e; x

i To enable others skilled in the art to readily understand and adopt the invention, the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one perfecting unit of a printing press embodying the invention; it being obvious that if more than one perfecting unit is employed all the perfecting units are constructed substantially alike Reference is made to the appended claims for summaries of the essentials of the invention andnovel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired by this appli- In said drawings: p e

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a press equipped with cylinders adapted to print pages say 22%? in vlength and arranged for the web of paper to be led into the press from beneath.

Figure 2 showsthe same press equipped with a larger size of cylinders adapted to print pages say 23%;" in length, and also arranged for the web of paper to be led in from above.

Figure-'3 is a detail view showing the relative position of the journal boxes of a pair 7 of plate and impression cylinders and filling in pieces. a p 7 Figure 4 is a detail view of'the wedges and filling. in pieces used to position the journal boxes of one size ofcylinders. v

Figure '5 is a detail View of a set of interchangeable wedges and filling in pieces used toeposition the journal boxes of another size of cylinders.

The frame of the press may be of any suitable construction and each side frame 1 is provided at its top end with pairs of openings la, 1?; for the journal boxes 2, 2a of the shafts i and p respectively of the impression cylinders I and plate-cylinders P. These cylinders arepreferably arranged parallel and in approximately the vsame plane; with the impression cylinders I between the plate cylinders P. v Y I v The openings 16 are larger than the journal boxes 2a'of the impression cylinders I so as to permit the journal boxes 2aofdifferent sized impression cylindersto be interchangeably'placed in the openings 16. The journal-boxes can be securely confined in said openings by meansof suitable interchangeable wedge shaped filler plates 26, interposed between one side ofthe'boxes and the inclined side 10 of the openings 1?), as shown in Fig ures 1, 2 and 5. Ifdesired'filler'plates or shims 2c of suitable thickness can be inter posed, between theopposite vertical side wall of the opening 16 and the boxes, as indicated in Figure 1.'- i r The openings 1a; are also larger than the boxes 2, so as to-permit-journal boxes of plate cylinders of different sizesto be inter-changeably placedin the openings 1a. The boxes 2 can'be accurately positioned in the openings 1 I 10 by means of wedge plates 2d and 26, which are interposed betweenthe opposite sides of the boxes 2 and the oppositely inclined sides of the openings 1a. I

By vertically adjusting the wedges 2d, 26, boxes 2 can be adjusted laterally toward or from the boxes 2a and correspondingly adjust the plate cylinders toward or from the related impression cylinders. Interchangeable sets of wedge plates 26, 2cl,'2e and shims 20 can be provided or kept in stock by the manufacturer to suit the size of boxes 2, 2a of the cylinders to be used in the press.

' The wedge plates 26,203, 26 can be readily adjusted by any suitable means. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, bolts 2f, 2g, 2h are tapped through a cap plate or bar 19 attached .to the top of the side frames 1 and closing the top of the openings, as usual'in press construction.

In Figure 1 the cylinders I and P are of a smaller size than are the similar cylinders I and P in Figure 2, and the shims 20 are employed asin Figure 1, so as to set the smaller impression cylinders-I further outward in the slots 17) and toward the related plate cylinders P." The wedges 2?), 2d, 26 are so adjusted that the peripheries of the plate and impression cylinders will properly coact as required in printing the web.

In Figure 2 the plate and impression cylinders P and I are slightly larger than the plate and impression cylinders P and I in Figure 1 therefore the shims 2c are omitted, and the wedges 2b are properly adjusted to so locate the boxes 2, 264 that the peripheries of the cylinders P and I will bein proper operative relation.

The two impression c-ylinders'I, I are preferably intergeared as usual by meansof gears I, only tle pitch line of said gears being indicated in broken lines inFiguresl and 2. As usual the plate and impression cylinders in each pair are intergeared by gears on the opposite ends of the cylinder shafts, said gears having their pitch or runing line in line with the peripheries of the cylinders, thus driving the cylinders in unison in the usual manner; such gears are well known and are not shown, as their addition to the drawings would simply obscure same.

Each plate cylinder received ink, as usual, from form rolls r, 7", taking ink from a drum D arranged below the related plate cylinder.

Each drum D is driven in proper time and relation with its related platecylinder by means of a gear p on the plate cylinder shaft meshing with an intermediate gear 3 mounted on a stud 3a, and in turn meshing with a gear (Z on the shaft (Z of the drum I).

Ink issuppli-ed to the drum D by any suitable means, preferably by a fountain located therebeneath in the usual manner, such ink supplying devices are common and well understood and may be of any desired kind.

As shown in Figure 1, the web W is led in from below over a guide 9 and then passed between one plate cylinder P and its related impression cylinder I, then down between the impression cylinders, and then up between the second impression cylinder and its related plat-e cylinder, to and over a guide 9'; and thence to a folder (not shown). Consequently in this construction, the ink distributing rollers O must be arranged at the inner side of the drum and between the ink supply to the drum and the innermost form roller.

As shown in Figure 2, the web W is led from above downward past the guide 9, then between the first pair of plate and impression cylinders P and I; then up between the impression cylinder I; thendown between the second pair of impression cylinders I and P; then down and over the guide roller 9, and then down to a folder (not shown). In this construction the direction of rotation of the cylinders and drums is opposite their direction of rotation 1n the construction shown in Figure 1. Consequently the distributin g rollersO must be placed, at thev outside of the drum between the ink supply to the drum and the outermost form roller. 1

From the foregoing description and the Whatever length of page is printed; and that all that is necessary in order to change the press to print another length of page is to remove the plate and impression cylinders and their gears and replace them by like cylinders and gears of the proper size, and

properly position the latter in place. If only the lead of the web is to be reversed, it is only necessary to shift the ink distributing rollers from one side of the drum to the other. i

Thus, referring to Figures 1 and 2, in order to change the press from the size of machine shown in Figure 1 (printing a certain length of page) to the size of a machine such as shown in Figure 2, (to print a different length of page) all that is required is to substitute for the cylinders of the diameter shown in Figure 1, the like cylinders of the diameter shown in Figure 2; and substitute gears I, P, ofthe proper size, and substitute spacing pieces or wedges 20, 2d, 26 of the proper size, In some cases, the intermediate gear 8 may be replaced if desired.

If the stub carrying gear 3 should be made adjustable it will never be necessary to change the gear 3, but merely shift its position. This will be understood by pressmen and is not a material feature. sired to'change the speedof the drum in some-cases the gear d may be replaced.

If the direction of run of the web remains the same as in Figure 1, when another size of cylinders are substituted in such press, it would not be necessary to change the posh tion of the ink distributing rollers 0; but if the direction of run of the web is reversed then the distributing rollers O should be shifted to the position indicated in Figure 2. Oppositely tapered wedge for adjusting movable bearings have been heretofore used'.

In the present invention the tapered face of the wedge impinges against the tapered or inclined face of the opening in the frame; and the wedge moves in line with the screw adjustment, that is it is at right angles to the direction of the applied pressure. It will be seen that the side of the wedge plates 2d,

26 which impinges against the inclined side of the opening in the side frame'has its face inclined complementary to the face of the opening. The wedges 2?), shown in connec tion with the impression cylinders, are not used for adjustment but simply as filler pieces so as to permit the easyinsertion of the rectangular impresslon cylinder hearings in If it is de 7 positions practically completely fill the openthe openings of the frame, and secure same in proper positioni After setting the bearings in proper position the wedge 27) is inserte'dand tightened by the screw 2f which looks the bearing firmly in place in the frame opening. This construction obviates the close fitting which would otherwise be necessary on the rectangular filler pieces 20 (if used) and requires only exact fitting of the cap-1g and of the bottom of the slots in the frame. IV edges 26 are locking means only; but Wedges 2d and 2e are both locking and adjusting means;v It is not necessary for wedge plates 2?) to havescrew adjustment for two directions and therefore I have not shown in the drawings threaded holes in wedges 2b. The wedges 2d and 26 may for adjusting purposes require motions both upward and downward and consequently threaded screw holes are indicated therein.

It will be noted thateach of the openings is-larger at top than at bottom, and each has at least one inclined side which are matters of real practical importance. Further the bearing boxes and wedges in all adjusted ings in the frame, the angular sides of the openings fitting the angular sites of the Wedges and thew-edges hold the boxes firmly,

and the large contact surfaces of the wedge with the box and the side of opening provide solid substantial abutments to receive the printing pressure in each and every ad.-

used, and each necessitates use of'mating cylinders of a certainfised diameter and a certain fixed center distance between such cylinders. In order to make the openings in the frame large enough to support a bearing with three different dimensions ofcenter distances and still retain the supportingmetal of the frames betweenthe openings strong to support or resist the immense pressures required between the plate and impression cylinder inmodern newspaper presses, the shape of the openings in the frame become very important.' .If these openings were shaped in the ordinary manner the section of metal (between the openings) which resists the pressurewould be weakened at the point where-the strain is applied, and the construction would not stand the speeds or pressures now used in newspaper presses.

By properly shaping the frames, arranging the general positions of the cylinders, proportioning the cylinder bushings, provid ing adequate holding means for locking these elements together, and providing proper inking means and web guides there is produced a novel and practical interchangeable-size rotary cylinder press for newspaper work; which is of great value to newspaper press builders and publishers. The invention enables the press builders to build and put out presses which with the same frames, the same inking mechanisms, the same journal adjusting devices, and interchangeable cylinders can be used for presses whose cylinders may vary up to three inches in diameter according to the length and size of the page of paper desired to print. This obviously saves large expenses in the initial manufacture of presses to print difierent sizes of pages; and the capability of having his press when purchased for one size'of page readily altered to printpages of another length by merely substituting new cylinders therein, is a great advantage and saving of time and expense to the users of the presses.

What is claimed is:

.1. In a rotary cylinder web printing press, a main frame provided with a plurality of aligned openings in each side frame for the reception of journal boxes, each opening having an inclined side; rectangular journal boxes mounted in said openings; plate and impression. cylinders mounted in said boxes, said cylinders being changeable in accordance with the length of page to be printed wedge plates for laterally adjusting the plate cylinder boxes in their openings in accordance with the size of the cylinders employed, means for adjusting the wedges and means for leading a web through the press and between the plate and impression cylinders to be printed thereby.

2. In a rotary printingpress capable of having its plate and impression cylinders substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; a main frame having aligned openings in'its side frames for the reception of journalboxes each opening having aninclined side, rectangular journal boxes mounted in and smaller than said openings, plate and impression cylinders journaled in said boxes, an adjustable wedge plate interposed between one side of each journal box and the inclined opposed side of the opening, and means for adjusting said wedge plate at right angles to the direction of the appliedlpressure to adjust the ournal boxes of the plate cylinderlaterally in the opening. I

3. In a rotary printing press capable of having its plate and impression cylinder substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; a main frame having a plurality of adjacent openings in each sidefor the reception of journal boxes, each opening being wider at top than at bottom, straight sided journal boxes smaller than and mounted in said openings; plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes, said cylinders being changeable inaccordance with'the desired length of page to be printed; wedge plates interposed between the sides of each journal box and the. inclined sides of the openings, and means for longitudinally adjusting such wedge plates at right angles to the direction of-the applied pressure to adjust the journal boxes of the plate cylinder laterally in the openings.

4. In a rotary printing press capable of having its plate and impression cylinders substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; a main frame provided with openings for the reception of the journal boxes of plate and impression cylinders, each of said openings having an inclined side; ournal boxes mounted in said openings and laterally adjustable therein; plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes said cylinders being changeable in accordance with the desired length of page to be printed; adjustable wedge plates interposed between the straight sides of said journal boxes and the inclined sides of the openings, and means for longitudinally adjusting such wedge plates at right angles to the direction of the applied pressure to adjust the journal boxes of the plate cylinder laterally in the openings.

5. In a rotary printing press capable of having its plate and impression cylinders substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; a main frame provided with openings for the reception of journal boxes, each of said openings being wider at top than at bottom, and having at leastone inclined side; rectangular journal boxes mounted in said openings and laterally adjustable thereon, adjustable plates interposed between said journal boxes and the inclined sides of the openings each plate having an inclined side engaging the inclined side of the related opening and a straight side engaging the straight side of the opposite ournal box, and plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes, said cylinders being interchangeable with like cylinders of different diameter in accordance with the de sired length of page to be printed.

6. In a rotary cylinder web printing press capable of having its plate and impression cylinders substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; main side frames having aligned openings for the reception of journal boxes, each of said openings having an inclined side; rectangular journal boxes mounted in said openings, plate and impresslon cylinders mounted in said boxes said cylinders belng changeable 1n accordance with the desired length of page straight face engaging the straight face of the rectangular journal box; and means for longitudinally adjusting each wedge plate in its opening. i 1

7. In a rotary cylinder web printing press having interchangeable plate and impression cylinders adapted to print pages of different lengths; a main frame having a plurality of openings in each side for the reception of the plate and impression cylinder journal boxes, the impression cylinder openings having one straight side and one side inclined, and the plate cylinder openings having both sides inclined; journal boxes mounted in said openings ;'plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes said cylinders being changeable in accordance with thedesired length of page i to be printed; wedge plates interposed between said journal boxes and the inclined sides of the openings; and means for adjusting the wedge plates to adjust the plate cylinder journal boxes in the openings.

8. In a rotary cylinder web printing press having interchangeable plate and impression cylinders adapted to print pages of different lengths; a main frame having a plurality of aligned openings in each side frame for the reception of the plate and impression cylin-' der journal boxes, said openings being larger at top than at bottom, the impression cylinder openings having their innermost,

sides straight and their outermost sides inclined, and the plate cylinder openings having both sides inclined; rectangular journal boxes mounted in and smaller than said openings; plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes, said cylinders being changeable in accordance with the length of page to be printed; wedge plates interposed between said journal boxes and the inclined sides of the openings, each wedge plate having a straight face engaging the journal box and an inclined face engaging the inclined face of the related opening; and means for adj usting the wedge plates to adj ust the plate cylinder journal boxes in the openings.

9. In a rotary printing press capable of having its plate and impression cylinder substituted by like cylinders to print pages of another length; a main frame having a pair of adjacent openings in each side for the reception of journal boxes, straight sided j ournal boxes mounted in said openings; a coacting pair of plate and impression cylinders mounted in said boxes, said cylinders being changeable in accordance with the desired length of page to be printed, the openings for the boxes of one cylinder being wider than such boxes and having its oppositely facing sides inclined; wedge plates interposed between the inclined sides of such openings and the 'ournal boxes. therein, and means for 10ng1tu clinally adjusting such Wedge plates at right angles to the direction of the applied pressure to adjust such ournal boxes and'the cylinder laterally. V 1 1 CITY NATIONAL BANK 8: TRUST COMPANY OF BATTLE CREEK, Administrator of Henry F. Bechman, Deceased,

ByGLENN VAN DENBERGH,

Asst. Trust Officer. 

